Georgia, Florida and the Off Week – 2011 Edition

Georgia and Florida continue their annual border war on Saturday, October 29, 2011 (3:30 p.m. ET – CBS). This year, both the Bulldogs and the Gators get the coveted off week prior to the big game in Jacksonville.

The 2011 “Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic” will be the first time in the 107 year history of the series that both teams are off the week prior. Georgia has won five straight while Florida limps in on a three-game losing streak, all to ranked teams.

The “off week” or “open date” prior to the Georgia-Florida game has historically belonged to the Gators. Call it good scheduling or just dumb luck, Florida has enjoyed the week off before the Georgia game 19 times in the series (1904-present). By contrast, the Dawgs have had the week off only six times.

The Gators are 15-4 against the Bulldogs when they have the off week. Georgia has a record of 3-3 against Florida after the open date.

In 12 seasons under Steve Spurrier, Florida enjoyed the off week nine times. In those nine ball games, Florida went 8-1 with the sole loss to Jim Donnan’s team in 1997. Although this was a strategic scheduling move by Florida and the Ol’ Ball Coach, the Bulldogs weren’t exactly a competent team during that stretch.

But Georgia is the team that should benefit more from the off week due to their travel to Jacksonville. The logistics for each team aren’t the same, therefore it’s almost an away game for Georgia even though the site is neutral. Yet the Bulldogs have had the off week only six times.

For such a big rivalry, the off week before this game should alternate between teams as much as possible. Georgia is off before Florida again in 2012 and faces Kentucky the week prior in 2013 and 2014. But those schedules are subject to change due to the addition of Texas A&M to the SEC.

What are your thoughts on the Georgia-Florida off week? Take a look at the numbers below, and then sound off in the comments.